Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

I know most of you have heard of this disease or disorder. My question is; when does something become OCD? Everyone has certian things they do or
rituals, so to speak, and some go a little overboard according to others', mainly doctors. Where is the fine line between routine and obsessing?

I'm not asking this because I think I have it, I've just been fascinated by this since I first heard about it, and even know people who 'may' have
it, but it seems harmless. So whats the big deal? So what, someone washes their hands 100 times or more a day?

What do you think it is that clicks inside the brain to become odsessed with a normal daily routine?
Magestica

Originally posted by magestica
I know most of you have heard of this disease or disorder. My question is; when does something become OCD? Everyone has certian things they do or
rituals, so to speak, and some go a little overboard according to others', mainly doctors. Where is the fine line between routine and obsessing?

The fine line, IMO, is crossed when the action or thought begins to interfere with day to day living.
i.e. if you wash your hands a lot, you're concerned about keeping clean. If you wash your hands so often that the skin begins to wear off, and you
can't leave the house or touch anything for fear of germs....then that's a problem.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is defined as the presence of obsessions or compulsions that produce substantial discomfort or impairment.

Obsessions are recurrent, markedly distressing thoughts, ideas, or impulses experienced as unwanted and senseless. Compulsions are repetitive,
purposeful, intentional behaviors, usually performed in response to an obsession in order to reduce the distress or prevent some dreaded event.

B.

Either obsessions or compulsions:

Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4):

1. recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate
and that cause marked anxiety or distress

2. the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems

3. the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action

4. the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in
thought insertion)

Compulsions as defined by (1) and (2):

1. repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person
feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly

2. the behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors
or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive

At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note:
This does not apply to children.

The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person's
normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.

If the individual has an additional disorder, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it.

The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

My 2c on this:

* everyone has a degree of obsessiveness and compulsiveness, it's part of the evolved human makeup

* I have always regarded 'obsession' as part of the thinking process and 'compulsion' as acting out or behavior arising from the obsession

* you really do know when you are watching someone with the disorder, you know when they are impaired

* I am not a true believer in the official psychiatric definitions of many things - for example being schizophrenic as opposed to having a temporary
delusional disorder is just a matter of a couple of days - this doesn't wash with me.

What creates obsessions?

Chemical imbalance, too much time to dwell on fears, and too much freedom to engage in the resultant behavior that creates an engrained habit. Like
ATS.

I don't understand the medical field and there evaluations often times, as I too feel there are discrepancies *many*, especially in the psychiatric
field. And I have this particular discussion before here pertaining to another thread.

I also agree that everyone has certain OCD like behavior at some time or other, but when does it actually become a problem for society? We all possess
an on/off button, some just are forever 'on'..and this is when the compulsing/obsessing becomes an issue, am I correct?

What I'm asking is; when does something routine cross over into obsession? What do you think causes this to happen? As most people who are deemed
OCD, were not born this way. Thanks MA for the definitions

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